USDA: Food safety is in good shape

Despite being faced with an alarming amount of food
recalls and reports of sometimes fatal food borne illnesses such as E. coli,
Salmonella, Listeriosis, and Botulism this year, the head of the US Department
of Agriculture (USDA), Ed Schafer, has said that food safety in the US is doing
just fine.

This comes as consumers are facing constant reports of
federal government announcements about such recalls. Some of these recalls
originate from the largest meat processors and grocery chains in the
US.

Most recent food
recalls
This week the USDA announced the recall
of about 4,535 pounds of pork products in Hawaii thought to be contaminated with
Listeria monocytogenes. Palama Holdings LLC of Kapolei, Hawaii, initiated
the recall over concerns that its fully cooked pork products might be tainted
with the Listeria bacterium.

Shafer - situation is improving
With
consumers facing these recall situations, according to reports Schafer has said
that the number of contaminated products has declined in recent years and the
situation is improving.

â€œI don't believe that, from a USDA standpoint, we
need to increase the number of inspectors or change the testing requirements,â€
Shafer said.